About 2.65 million trees costing about $28.6 million have been planted in country parks in the past three years.

Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao told legislators today that, in general, 28% of the total country park area is covered with trees, 30% with shrubs, and the remainder mainly with grass. The area of slopes not covered with vegetation is small.

She said the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department will continue to plant trees on these slopes to restore the vegetation destroyed by erosion or hill fires.